The Stories that Shape Us
We're BIG on beagles. No doubt about that. But we're also pretty darn BIG on people. The people who support us through
thick and thin --- our Donors, our Veterinarians, our Foster Families, and our Adopters. As we all navigate our way through this worldwide crisis in the
early days of 2021, we want to slow the rollercoaster ride down for a moment and reflect on the Stories that shape this little
Beagle Repair Shop. We want to shine the light on folks that inspire us and remind us of just why we should keep doing what
we do. We're going to start with a beautiful
letter we received just before Christmas from a Family that embraced a few precious BOB beagles over the years...if only every
broken beagle could know a Family like this... Vincent and Teddy The Story of Vincent Priceless Vincent Priceless joined our family in the spring of 2008. We
know very little of Vincent’s earliest days, except that he was born in Ohio, somehow ended up at Toronto Animal Services,
adopted out, returned after one day (because he cried through the fence to meet the neighbouring dog), deemed as ‘unadoptable’
for this, all by the age of one. Luckily for him, Big On Beagles (BOB) came to his rescue. He was lovingly fostered
by BOB angels, Guy and Leanne, and their bevy of hounds. I remember
his first visit to our home. He was small and reserved, but curious. He had big brown eyes, a bushy fox tail and
fur as soft as angora. During a trial walk, he started braying at the ground. It was at that moment we knew he was the
soulmate to our basset-beagle boy Ted (another BOB beagle formerly named Vincent). A few weeks later, Vincent moved in (complete with almond treats supplied by foster dad, Guy). He
became the classic second half of ‘the heir and the spare’, often looking to his older beagle-basset brother to
be told what to do and how to do it. The two continued to track scents together while honking loudly, oblivious to the amusement
of passersby, earning the nicknames “donkey and chicken”. We waited patiently with hope to meet the ‘real’ Vincent. His pure ‘joie de vivre’ blossomed
one day; ears flapping wildly up and down as he ran full speed chasing my daughter and her friends during a game of ultimate
frisbee. There he was! Vincent thrived and bonded with us all, but mostly
with Ted. Over the decade they were together, it was not unusual to find the two crammed into one little dog bed. You
rarely ever found one without the other. In 2017, Vincent was diagnosed with
megaesophagus. This condition disabled his ability to keep food down and enabled the regurgitated food to travel into
his lungs, causing what is known as aspiration pneumonia. Left untreated, the pneumonia is fatal. With no known
cure, the prognosis with daily feeding intervention was about one year. We prepared ourselves and set out to make the
most of the next twelve months, fully aware that his next bout of pneumonia could very well be his last. Thank goodness
Vincent loved food enough to get him into his feeding box three times a day and tolerate sitting in an upright position for
gravity to help him out. During his mandatory 30 minutes, Vincent expected and demanded quality time with his humans.
No cellphone use permitted. Less than full engagement was met with protesting howls. All was forgiven if singing, meaningful
conversations and head rubs happened. Sadly, the box was no guarantee
of a pneumonia-free existence. There was no telling how long he would go between episodes. Each time the pneumonia flattened
him, and the first twenty-four hours were always a battle. To everyone’s amazement, he somehow managed to pull
through and thrive. After countless recoveries, we started calling him the “Comeback Kid”. He
even soldiered through a broken foot and the loss of his beloved Ted due to cancer in May 2018. In the end, it was kidney
failure at the age of 14 and a half, that would be his “Waterloo”. He quietly stopped eating and let us
know it was time for him to go on October 15, 2020. Vinnie Porkchop,
we promised you we would say goodbye on your terms and be with you until your last breath. We will always love you dearly.
Living years longer than your prognosis was truly a gift that we cherished every day. You were never a burden.
You were a blessing. We will miss you dearly; your silly bark, your ability to love, your beautiful face, your soft
ears. We hope you felt the love that your humans had for you. We pray that you are with Ted, ears flopping,
noses snorting, honking away eating whatever you want. Your empty feeding
box sits in the dining room, as we are not quite ready to let it go. It reminds us of your inspiring resilience, your
never-failing determination and your strength. Your name is from the Latin word vincere, meaning to conquer.
You were more than just ‘the spare’. You were the warrior, and despite your many battles, you conquered
it all, Vincent. Until we meet again. Much love, Your furever family And when all hope had gone away On that rainy, rainy day We said goodbye; the hardest thing
to do. But we could have told you, Vincent, This world was always meant
For one as beautiful
as you.
A Continuing Salute to OUR Frontline Workers... We decided to continue to dedicate our Beagle of the
Month as we start this New Year of 2021 to the ones who make the happy new beginnings for our beagles possible. Especially
during this difficult time. Our veterinary teams continue to provide the absolute best care for our beagles. Thank you, from
the bottom of our beagle-loving hearts: - Beaches Animal Hospital
- Carter Veterinary Hospital (Bowmanville)
- Dundas West Animal Hospital
- Allandale Veterinary Hospital
- Northhumberland Veterinary Clinic
(Colborne)
- Toronto Veterinary
Emergency Hospital - Scarborough
- Veterinary Emergency
Clinic - Toronto
2020...it started out as the bright and hopeful beginning of a brand
new decade for this little beagle repair shop. Over 20 years rescuing beagles and we're still here. And even though 2020 took
a turn that nobody could have ever predicted, we are indeed still HERE. Because of YOU. Your continued faith and support in
our work makes it possible for us to keep saving the lives of beagles in greatest need. Senior beagles, those with serious
and chronic health issues, those in need of surgeries that are not within the budget of our animal shelters, and those suffering
from physical and emotional trauma. You make it possible. You bring the wag back to their tails. Please help us keep our doors
open throughout this new and hopefully better year of 2021. There are many options to your financial support for our beagles. You can make a gift to our beagles for
yourself or in honour of a loved one for a special occasion. We'll send them a card on your behalf so they know the
impact you've made in their name. You'll be making twice the difference for that special someone AND for a rescued beagle. Or, make a difference ALL year long. Join our family of Monthly BOBefactors
by setting up a Monthly Gift for our Homeless Howlers. Your monthly gift of $10 or more really can
make a difference for our beagles in need...one heartbeat at a time. But
even if all you can do right now is cheer us on, we'll take it. You lift our spirits with every single kind word. On
behalf of our beagle babies, THANK YOU. Wishing you good health and a positive spirit throughout this historical and universal
event. *To make
a direct donation to our beagles, or to set up a Monthly Gift via Canada Helps, please use our Canada Helps Donation Form
below and thank you so very much for your support.
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Raising the funds to support our important
work is crucial but without loving foster homes, our work would be impossible to perform. Please consider joining our
family TODAY! We need MORE FOSTER PARENTS!!! Don't wait another minute! Send us YOUR Foster Application TODAY!!!
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